www.theracingconnection.comwww.theracingconnection.com OktoberfestOktoberfest PastPast && PresentPresent October 2016 Vol. 20, No. 6 Inside... Gustin Grabs 40 Grand Pictures from the Past October 2016 Page 2 Page 3 October 2016 The Midwest An Epic Battle RACING Publisher's Note Connection October 2016 Racing According to Plan During the final night’s action, Lemke chipped away at Vol. 20, No. 6 the lead, and the margin was down to just 5 points heading into the final point race of the season for the P.O. Box 22111 division. Moore and Lemke lined up right near each St. Paul MN, 55122 other in the feature race to add more excitement to the 651-451-4036 race. While the two drivers were making their way to [email protected] the front, Moore was tagged by another competitor www.theracingconnection.com and went spinning into turn one. Lemke narrowly avoided the carnage. From my vantage point, all I Publisher could see was tire smoke and the crunching noise of Dan Plan cars coming together. Contributing Writers Shane Carlson When the smoke cleared, Moore’s car had received Dale P. Danielski significant damage. It was a shame to see one of the Jacklyn Daniels-Nuttleman sharpest looking cars all season torn to pieces, and the Dean Reller championship fading away. Jason Searcy Charlie Spry Dan Plan Fortunately for Dylan, there was a lot of carnage and debris to clear off the track before competition could Photographers I’ve always enjoyed the aspect of awarding the point resume. Numerous members from various teams Jim Ambruoso (815-623-3200) championship based on the entire season’s efforts by swarmed into action. I’m guessing there may have Jeff Blaser (715-498-7544) Martin DeFries (651-346-1199) driver and his team. This year’s Big-8 point battle at been a duct tape shortage in the pits at Elko by the TJ Harron (608-301-0993) Elko came down to the final night, with only 11 points time Dylan made it back onto the track with his separating Dylan Moore and Jon Lemke. Doug Hornickel (920-563-0993) wounded machine. Tom Loos (715-370-7895) Mark Melchiori (414-463-0131) Moore was able to gain a Bruce Nuttleman (612-860-6622) few spots and finish the Vince Peterson (612-419-6372) race 5 spots behind Mary Schill/Forte Design (608-792-1317) Lemke, causing a tie for Jerry Zimmer (715-792-2174) the overall championship. Dylan was declared the The Midwest Racing Connection is published six times champion based on more during the summer racing season by The Plan Company, Inc. feature race wins than Jon All material is copyrighted 2016 and may not be over the course of the reprinted without permission. Subscriptions are $20 year. It was an epic battle for six issues. Call 651-451-4036. to the end. Hats off to both Cover photos by: Doug Hornickel, Bruce competitors for giving their Nuttleman and Dale P. Danielski Martin DeFries photo continued on page 12 AIRPORT SERVICE - CALL 24 HOURS *Time Calls - Appointments DISCOUNT TAXI FOR TRANSPORTATION Toll Free 1-888-240-8294 612-723-5500 www.discounttaxiracing.com October 2016 Page 4 Heinrich took his first ever feature win in the division The Haase family was well represented, as Grandpa tonight, holding off Volm and Merriam for the win, and Dad to the pair, Rick Haase was present. The Going in Circles with Merriam getting the title. family found Rick’s old super late that had been sold many years ago, still sitting in a shed. It had been In the Mini-Stock division, Greg Blount came into the stored since probably the late 1980’s, and was left night with a slim lead over Rob Wruck. After Wruck intact, save for the engine. The family cleaned it up set fast time, things were looking up for him, but from and left it alone, appearance wise, as it still had all the there on out he had nothing but troubles with his car, lettering on it from when Rick raced it. They found an not even finishing the feature, which Blount won, engine, redid all of the brakes and rear end, and now giving him the title honors. have a neat piece of history. Rick was reunited with his old car and drove it out for opening ceremonies. In the Bandolero division, Levon Vandergeest had a Rick is fighting some health issues, so this was a real thirty-four point lead over Kolton Guralski coming into cool thing to see. Charlie Spry the night, and while Guralski won the feature and Vandergeest finished back in the pack a bit, it wasn’t Next up for the champions chase was a trip to the enough to overcome, and Vandergeest got the title. Madison International Speedway to see who would be Season point champions were decided at most of the crowned 2016 champs there. Casey Johnson had been tracks that I frequent in early September, with some Third generation driver Rayce Haase was present, declared the winner of the triple crown series for pretty interesting scenarios presenting themselves, and racing in the Mini-Stocks. At seventeen years old, super lates a couple of weeks prior, with the weekly even when there weren’t any close battles, it’s still an Rayce is just starting his racing career. He ran an divisions having their time to shine on the final point interesting time of the season. enduro here a couple of years ago, only finishing a few night. laps, then came out late last year and raced his Mini- At Wausau’s State Park Speedway it came down to Stock on the dirt at Tomahawk late in the year. He In the NASCAR late model division, veteran Bobby Dalton Zehr and Derek Kraus in the super lates. started on the dirt again this year before switching to Wilberg was seeking the 20th championship of his Kraus had whittled away Zehr’s point lead down to the asphalt, and runs well here now. His Dad is Jesse career, and he got it done, winning the title on the final eight points before the feature race, but alas, Zehr Haase, who also got his start in racing at Tomahawk night over last years’ champ Zack Riddle. Ty Majeski took the feature win over Kraus to seal the deal. back when it was paved, and went on to race limited was present, seeking to add to his NASCAR point lates and super lates for many years. Jesse had this to In the limited lates it was between veteran Lyle say about Rayce, “My Dad was just so smooth in the Going In Circles continued on page 5 Nowak and rookie Jerry Brickner. Once again, corners, just kind of Brickner won the feature on the final night over glided in there and Nowak, assuring himself of the title. made the turns, and I TJ Harron photo was way different, I The Mini-Mod division didn’t share in the drama, as just threw it into the George Seliger drove his Saturn to the title over Phil corners. Now, I see in Malouf, bringing in a 100+ point lead into the final Rayce that he drives night. Malouf got the feature win, but it wasn’t the same way my Dad enough. did. Maybe it skips a generation or In the Pure Stock division, it was Mike “Louie” something.” The plan is Merriam with a slim lead over Travis Volm before the for Rayce to move up night began. Before the racing, Volm told me, ‘He to the limited lates next would have to have a kind of bad night, and I’d have year with Jesse’s super to have a real good night, but it’s possible.” Brock late. CEDAR VIEW ELECTRIC, INC. 952-469-2100 New Construction - Remodel - Service Work Pools/Hot Tubs - Basements - Additions Residential & Commercial Lakeville, MN www.cedarviewelectric.com Page 5 October 2016 Going In Circles continued from page 4 In the Bandit division, it was Brandon Delacy gaining the title over Steve total, and won the first feature over Wilberg with a Dickson. Dickson won the first feature late race pass, while John Beale won the second over Delacy, while Nick Schmidt won feature over Riddle. Wilberg basically had the title the second one over Dickson and wrapped up before the racing began. Delacy. Brandon pretty much knew what he had to do to get the title and he In the sportsman division, it was Robert Hansberry Jr. did it. placing third in the first feature and winning the second one to claim the title over Steve Abderson. This was a On the final couple of nights various similar scenario as to the late models, being that drivers made appearances to collect Hansberrry pretty much had the deal sealed NASCAR points, as Lacrosse veteran beforehand. Steve Carlson also showed up on the Bruce Nuttleman photo final night. Casey Johnson had showed up the previous week as well, and while he wasn’t really chasing points, he was a great addition to the field. Jeremy Miller, Tyler Hromadka, and Jake Gille also were present. Craig Phillips brought out a really sharp looking car late this season in the late models. A very deep maroonish-red color with a simple #79 on the side. No gaudy graphics or anything, just a sharp looking car that stands out. Craig said that he really was not set up for racing at MIS, but he ran well and stayed out of trouble. Nice job! We took in our first post-season special event early in September, the Fall Spectacular at the Marshfield Motor Speedway.